All posts by TJ Provost

I was able to do two 60 Minute Challenges and hold a pace of nearly 3.5 miles for two days.

I thought I was going well. Then when I woke up yesterday my lower back and lower right hip were throbbing. Throbbing that migrated to the front of my thigh.

I have been very depressed today because I thought maybe I was over the worst of my back issues, but clearly if I push myself to walk too far/too fast, I am in pain for a few days after, which just sucks.

It makes me feel old and sad.

I’d convinced myself that all those doctors who told me I’d need a fusion at some point were wrong. I still hope they are, especially if I can lose more weight, but this just feels like a kick in the balls.

I’m still walking and can move, so this back pain episode is nowhere near as bad as ones that have put me on my back for a week, but its just a reminder that my back is still fragile, and that makes me feel vulnerable.

I remember using one of these Push Sweepers when I was a kid. We were living in (what I now know) were horrible apartments. My brother remembers killing roaches, I remember pushing a Sweeper just like this one. Toys were hard to come by back then, know what I’m saying? The same basic design from more than thirty years ago is still in use today – because it works. You push the Sweeper, it uses that energy to spin brushes and throw dirt and debris into a holding bin.

Did I also mention this Push Sweeper is super quiet? If you have family or neighbors who work the opposite shift, its nice to be able to clean without making a lot of noise.

Or maybe the power is just out – or you don’t have power at your cabin. This Push Sweeper is the perfect tool to keep your floors and rugs clean.

Don’t forget about the basic everyday items you need to survive – stock your Bolt Hole with everything you are going to need to survive when the power grids go down.

It gives me a sense of safety knowing I’ve got a little something that no one expects when the world falls apart. Sure, this isn’t the cheapest Umbrella you can buy but it is also worth every penny if you need it. You can carry it just about everywhere and no one is going to realize that its really a piece of survival gear. If it is hot and sunny, tell people you are allergic to the sun or burn easily, if its raining, well, no one asks why you have an Umbrella when its raining.

If you need to defend yourself, don’t you want a weapon? While I would tell you to just give up your phone or your wallet if mugged (don’t fight until you have to) – you never know when things are going to get violent, and that is where this Unbreakable Umbrella becomes your best friend. The surprise factor alone is going to give you an extra second to escape or push the attack when you turn on your assailant and they realize this isn’t any old Umbrella.

Last time I talked about this Unbreakable Umbrella I had a ton of feedback yelling about concealed carry. There are two issues with that. First, it’s not really practical to travel by air with a pistol in most cases. Secondly, depending on where you live, concealed carry is not even an option. In some states, even carrying a knife is problematic. So how do you make sure you have at least a chance of surviving if things go south? You plan and sneak as many survival items into your every items. One of those Hidden Survival Gear items that I love is my Unbreakable Umbrella. It looks like a normal umbrella. It works like a normal umbrella whenever it rains. But if you attack me, I’ve got a bludgeon to defend myself which isn’t going to shatter after two whacks. How hard this hits will surprise most attackers. They are going to expect it to be a normal umbrella, which means you have shock and pain on your side. You can use that to turn and run – or press the attack if they have you cornered.

This weekend’s selection is this bottle of Tullamore Dew Crock. I honestly get a little worried when I see funky bottles like this. The suspicious part of me always worries that if the whiskey needs a gimmick its not going to be good.

Come back Sunday to find out if this Tullamore Dew Crock holds up to my suspicious nature.